Meet the 26 Michiganders who will advise Gov. Whitmer on reopening schools

A parent, a student, two teachers, a health officer, a superintendent and 20 other Michigan residents will advise Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on when and how to reopen the state’s schools.

The members of Whitmer’s new COVID-19 Return to School Advisory Council were announced Wednesday. Whitmer said last month that she’d seek public input on school buildings re-opening.

“I know this group is prepared to carefully examine the data and consult with experts when helping me determine what is best for our kids,” Whitmer said in a statement.

As the number of new coronavirus cases in Michigan drops, schools buildings remain closed and are not expected to reopen before the end of the school year. Whitmer lifted the state’s stay-at-home order on Monday.

She has not committed to a firm reopening date for schools, nor issued guidance on how schools should reopen safely.

In other countries where schools have reopened, students are being asked to maintain six feet of distance from each other and schools are increasing sanitation.

Click here for a full list of the council’s members:

The Latest

The Science Research Mentoring Program at the American Museum of Natural History prepares high school students for science careers.

District administrators are watching their budgets. Educators are watching their words. Everyone is trying to figure out what the Trump administration will mean for schools and students in the long run.

Addison Wang was initially skeptical of spending 16 hours a week at a job site instead of at school. Here’s what changed his mind.

Four seats on the seven-member board are up for election on Nov. 4.

Maykol Bogoya-Duarte was detained May 20 while on his way to a Downriver field trip.

Indiana lawmakers did not pass legislation on mental health and school counselors this year. But schools are proceeding with the programs and looking for outside funding sources.